Saving Education in California
Last March I wrote about a local initiative to raise money for public schools. If the measure had passed, it would have added $26 to parcel taxes in the district. In California, any inititative to raise taxes has to garner a 67% majority to pass. The money was earmarked to save arts classes and other electives in our two high schools. In March, it failed by less than a percentage point.
Immediately after that election it was decided by teachers, administrators, parents and students to put it on another ballot for the June 7 election.
Everyone in sight was recruited for a tough get-out-the-vote campaign. Signs were made, fliers passed out in front of grocery stores, registration booths set up. Teachers wrote letters, placed ads in local papers. Kids talked to their neighbors.
At the polls on election day I ran into a friend who happens to be a third grade teacher. She told me they had just been given their budget for their classes next year.
Do you know what the entire budget for the third grade is?" She asked me. "A hundred twenty five dollars." That's to cover everything a class might need, from construction paper to Kleenex. As in years past, teacherswill have to dig into their own pockets to supply their students.
The sample ballot that was mailed to all voters contained brief arguments for and against the measure. Here is the argument against it:
On March 8th, voters rejected this tax increase, but the school board members seem to have chosen to ignore that vote. Holding this special election is expensive for the county, not to mention two special elections this year. The trustees are hoping to sneak this tax increase through without us knowing. What part of "no" do they not understand?
Property taxes are a poor way to finance education. We should require only those who use the schools to pay for them. Not everyone who pays property taxes benefits from the schools, and families that use the schools do not all pay. That is discrimination.
If it is so important for "electives" to be available, parents should pay for it themselves. This way their children will appreciate those opportunities more. We need to get back to the basics of education. That will save money.
Sebastopol and Forestville already have public libraries. Instead of spending more money for several libraries, all residents would benefit if we combined them into one per community.
Senior citizens, don't let proponents of measure K buy your vote through the exemption offer. Think of young families buying their first home. The initial cost is high enough without the already high property taxes.
Renters, don't be surprised if your rent increases due to higher taxes.
Maybe West County High School District ought to improve its management of the money it already receives instead of begging for more. If you think that the schools need more money, no one is keeping you from paying $26, $100, or more if you wish.
Look at your last tax bill. Do you really want it raised?
All that the schools want is more of your money, and they will never have enough.
Leaving aside the mean-spiritedness of this message, I have to point out that the "What part of no do they not understand?" argument comes from a minority whose 34% of the vote defeated the will of the 66% majority. Over a lousy $26.
The argument was signed by three individuals, and the reader was directed to the Starving Taxpayers website for more information.
The site contains more of the same stuff, among it this:
MY MAY 9th ELMOLINO TOUR
I arrived shortly before 9 to tour the campus with a representative from the pro-tax side. When I arrived it was raining pretty hard so I watched, from inside my vehicle, what was taking place. Looking at the ball fields, I could see through the rain, the sprinklers also watering the grass. I sure hope it got enough water that day!
Some of the other things I saw:
Two libraries, one school library and one public library, but only one is open at a time.
Optional classes that are already available elsewhere.
Students who have been brainwashed into believing that more tax is good.
Teachers that are unusually well versed in the points of the communist manifesto, and violently defensive of it.
Teachers that are unrespectable in their appearance and in-class mannerisms.
I asked, and was told that the amount of dues the teachers union receives from each teacher in the distinct, whether they agree or not, is $700-$800 per year. If they really needed it in the schools why do they ship it out? That is a prime example of slavery to the unions.
Presumably, he - I assume it was a "he," since everything on this site is unatrributed - picked all this up from the safety of his car. I could spend a few paragraphs venting my anger at this screed, and point out all its errors and inconsistencies, but I think it pretty much speaks for itself. A perfect axample of how public education was wasted on one individual.
The good news: On June 7, Measure K passed with 67.5% of the vote.
6:58:04 AM 
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